Some Progress being Made at WTO Meeting

Officials are breaking into smaller groups.

Jul 23, 2008

While World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy says progress has been made at this week's ministerial meeting in Geneva, he emphasizes that it is modest at best. On Wednesday, with the review of agricultural and non-agricultural market access texts behind them, Lamy suggested splitting up into smaller discussion groups.

"I would invite all the nations to engage each over the next few days with a greater sense of urgency," Lamy said, "With the focus very much on the development of compromises."

Although the meetings were scheduled to end this Saturday, reports from Geneva say that more time may be needed to resolve existing differences and move the Doha Round of global trade talks forward.

"Success or failure depends very much on how far all are prepared to cooperate," Lamy says. "With that we are each prepared to act with the interest of the broader membership and of the benefits of the system as a whole."